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Hello. I would kindly like to ask if could be possible to deduce the factory brand of the hammerheads that are into a Steinway A188 from 1919. This hammerheads set is an after market one which was installed by a very valued technician (retired now), perhaps about 10 years ago.

they look like a re-felted set on original core /original underfelt but not seeing the side makes it difficult to be sure.The gluing is not original, certainly, (and not nice looking) but I never saw such hammer making (with uneven impregnation lines The shape is too much "potato like" for being normal made hammers.

The felt looks very soft and cotoneous - may be US imported ?

Re felted hammers have staples, and all the original marks (not always stamped Steinway)

The stamp of the shop that did the re felting is often find on some bass hammer.

Edited by Olek (02/21/1304:20 PM)

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Thank you very much! I cannot find any mark or stamp on the hammers. What I can say is that they are centainly european hammers and they could have more than 10 years. They also have a progressive "tapered" shape on the sides (more on the basses, less on the trebles).

New hammers on old shanks is a far cry from an "entire rebuild". The action felts and buckskin also look old or original. It is fairly common that partial action restorations are sold as as full rebuilds. The main thing is that it plays properly and sounds good to you.

Sure, the "entirely rebuild" is sort of generic term, it always strikes me for having seen real rebuilds, that makes a huge difference in the end. New pinblock, new bridge tops, dampers hamner, shanks and sometime full stack...keys done new or the sides repaired, etc.. The case, of course

450 -600 hours work on a grand, often finished 6 month later....

Of course some original parts are better kept in some cases

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It is critical that you call your Senators and Representatives and ask them to cosponsor S. 2587 and H.R. 5052. Getting your legislators to cosponsor these bills

Thank you very much indeed. The piano has been "rebuilt" in the sense that everything that was not good enought to last has been replaced: strings, dampers, hammers, pins, frame and case finishes, etc. But it has not been sold with a claim of "full rebuilt": you see, it comes from a retired technician who is no longer interested in business.